May 04, 2014 09:53 PM CDTMay 04, 2014 09:56 PM CDTNow that season is over, what's to become of the Mavericks' seven free agents?

Now that season is over, what's to become of the Mavericks' seven free agents?

1/17

Vernon Bryant/Staff Photographer

The Mavericks' Game 7 loss to the Spurs means its time to think about the 2014-15 season. Here's a look at the contract situations for every Mavericks player and coach Rick Carlisle. (Player contracts courtesy of hoopshype.com)

SAN ANTONIO — The crowd’s roar barely had subsided and the teams exchanged handshakes when the Mavericks began facing questions about the offseason.

That’s the nature of sports. Shawn Marion showered, dressed and left AT&T Center with no way of knowing whether he had just played his final game as a Maverick, after five seasons and an NBA title in 2011.

After three seasons in Dallas, Vince Carter faces similar uncertainty. Like Marion, Carter’s contract expires this summer. In fact, seven Mavericks are eligible to become free agents.

“I’m going to relax for a little bit and go see my son,” said Marion, who turns 36 on Wednesday. After Game 2, he rushed to Chicago to see newborn son Shawn, then returned to the series.

Will he return to the Mavericks?

“I’m going to weigh my options,” said Marion, who made $9.3 million this season, the last of a five-year contract. “I would love to win another championship. I’m going to wait it out and see what happens. But Dallas is going to be my home. I’m building my retirement home there.”

Carter, 37, has been a bargain for Dallas the past three seasons, the past two of which he’s filled the role of sixth man left by Jason Terry.

Carter made $3.1 million this season. The swingman who made the winning 3-pointer in Game 3 and scored 10 points in Sunday’s playoff finale said he would love to return to Dallas.

“When I came here, I wanted to show not only my teammates, but this organization and Mavs fans that I love this game,” Carter said. “I will play hard. I’ll do whatever it takes to win.

“The age thing means nothing to me because my desire, my love for the game, can shine through. I think I’ve proven that this year.

“We’ll see. I just wanted to give this team all I can. Hopefully my play takes care of all the other stuff. I’ll just let it play out over the summer.”

Other Mavericks who are eligible to become free agents are Devin Harris, DeJuan Blair, Jae Crowder, Bernard James . . . . oh, and Dirk Nowitzki.

Nowitzki, who turns 36 in June, has said numerous times that he intends to sign a two-or-three-year deal with Dallas at reduced rate from the $22.7 million he made this season.

How reduced, though? And though Nowitzki said he is encouraged that starting point guard Jose Calderon is signed for three more years and shooting guard Monta Ellis for two more (though the second year is a player option), shouldn’t he wait and see what other additions Dallas makes this summer?

“I think that’s something we’re going to talk about way later,” Nowitzki said Sunday of his contract status. “I’m just disappointed we lost a Game 7. I think that’s something I’m going to sit back and relax and talk plenty, but now’s not the time.”

After Sunday’s game, Mavericks owner Mark Cuban spoke briefly to the players, telling them he was proud of what they accomplished this season, but also telling them he would like to bring back as many of them as possible next season.

During his postgame news conference, Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle echoed, “I’d love to have ‘em all back.” Two summers ago, Dallas added eight new players. Last summer, it added nine new players. Carlisle said he and Cuban and president of basketball operations Donnie Nelson agree that “the more continuity we can have going forward, the better.”

For 16 years, the franchise largely has been built around Nowitzki. Carlisle expressed confidence that Nowitzki will remain a Maverick, but made a point Sunday of publicly thanking Nowitzki.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen as far as how much money we can pay him, but whatever it is it won’t be enough,” Carlisle said. “Because he has such high impact with everything that goes on with our team and everything that goes on with our organization.

“I know we’ll get that done. I know he wants to be back and everything. But I’ve never seen a player . . . that carries a heavier load for a franchise, for an organization, than Dirk Nowitzki.

“I can’t say in words how much respect I have for him and what he stands for and everything he’s done for this organization — and for me. And he’s got a lot of good years left. I think that’s evident.”

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